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By
Mzwandile Poncana, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Mississauga.com
Like so many students in Peel Region, when Adriana Ruby-Sanguigni graduated from Brampton’s St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School last year, limited finances had her concerned about finding a dress for prom.
“In our family, there tends to be financial stress around graduation and prom, especially with outfits and all the accessories,” she said.
However, the Making Prom Happen event — a free graduation and promwear event which provides clothes to graduating middle and secondary students in Peel — swept in and saved the day.
“The event was able to take away all of my financial stress, and I felt so happy to be a part of the event because, walking in, you don’t feel like someone who has less, you feel like you have more because there are kind people all around you,” said the 18-year-old student, currently in college.
Thanks to the event, she was able to find the perfect dress.
“I felt so excited to find so many dresses in my size, and I didn’t have to compromise the idea of how I wanted to look because of size ranges.”
Ruby-Sanguigni is one of hundreds of students who attended last year’s Making Prom Happen event.
The event, now in its third year, has become a source of support for students struggling to find the perfect prom outfit and aims to ensure every graduating student has equal access to prom — regardless of their family’s income level.
“We want to make sure that every student that wants to attend prom can attend prom. We don’t feel like not having the clothing should be a barrier,” said Donna Boucher, founder of the Making Prom Happen event.
“We just feel like everyone should go to prom — it’s such an important milestone that no kid should be left out.”
Three years ago, Boucher was cleaning out her closet and came across three dresses. She searched, but couldn’t find anywhere to donate them.
“I am somewhat encourageable, and a friend said to me, ‘Just make your own,’ and so I did,” Boucher said.
She put up posts soliciting donations in various places — including on LinkedIn and at her job — and within six weeks, she had received more than 300 dresses and 30 volunteers.
The Streetsville Children’s Centre offered to donate their location for the event.
For the event, students are first asked to fill out a registration where they choose a time they’d like to arrive. There, they browse through donated clothes the same way they would at a store — they also have a space to try things on — and then check out what they’ve chosen.
“We have this set up as a real shopping experience because we want to make sure that everything is done with dignity,” said Boucher.
Students are allowed to take one complete outfit. For example, girls can take a dress, shoes, a bag, jewelry and makeup, while boys can take a suit, pocket square, shoes, socks and a tie or bow tie.
The first event was attended by 70 students.
“When we opened the doors, I walked out and I saw a lineup around the building. I had to walk back in and go into a room because I was so moved by all the kids that I saw,” Boucher said.
The following year, the number of attendees more than tripled from the inaugural event, with 260 students taking part. They also had a bigger venue, at Bramalea Secondary School.
“We actually had to do crowd control at the entrance last year to the school. There were so many kids lined up to come in. It was just amazing,” she said.
Last year, when she was covering for one of the volunteers, she was moved seeing children try on their outfits.
“When you watch a kid come out, and you see the look on their face and they’re so proud of what they’re wearing, it’s so magical,” she said. “They’re so happy and feel so good about themselves. And mental health is such a big deal right now for our kids. That moment of feeling good about themselves is so important.”
Despite the support the event has been able to provide, it has also faced challenges with donations. This year, they especially need curvy-size dresses — size 16 and above — noting that sometimes students walk away from the event emptyhanded because they could not find what they wanted in their size.
Boucher also emphasized they are specifically looking for gowns, adding they often receive summer or business dresses — which students wouldn’t want to wear to prom. They’re also looking for fancy suits — anywhere from size small to extra-large. They encourage donors to visit their Amazon wish list, and can visit their website to learn more about how to donate.
Another barrier they face is location and distance.
“It breaks my heart that there’s kids who can’t come because we’re too far away and yet they live in Peel Region,” she said.
Katy Pattullo, a social worker who works at Bramalea Secondary School and a volunteer at last year’s event, said Making Prom Happen is extremely important.
“Many families struggle to cover the expenses of daily life, such as housing, groceries and utility bills. Special events like graduation and prom can be an added expense and lead to stress for families,” said Pattullo.
“As a school social worker, I am always happy to hear and share information about community agencies or volunteer groups who are offering supports to address these needs.”
Pattullo described the atmosphere of last year’s event as fun and enjoyable.
“I loved seeing friends and/or siblings browsing the event together and seeing the smiles when they showed each other their finds or tried on their items,” she said.
She recounts one memorable moment from a high school student who attended the event with his younger sister, who was looking for a graduation dress. The family had been through multiple life-changing events which had led to significant financial strain.
“At the event, they both seemed to be having fun and the options for dresses were as plentiful as they would be at a retail store, if not more so,” she said. “Knowing what they had been through over recent years … it was so amazing to see them having fun and leaving with a beautiful dress.”
She believes there is a growing need for events like this in Peel Region.
“As a school social worker, I often get calls from families who are in need of support around special events or days of significance,” said Pattullo.
“Sometimes, these events and traditions can be costly for families who want to be able to enjoy these special times together. ”
Ruby-Sanguigni concurs there is a deep need for the event, acknowledging many students in Peel face the same affordability challenges she did.
“Just attending the event, you can see people feel exactly like you and also have financial stress,” she said.
She mentioned that, especially after COVID, she sees people struggling financially. Prom has become a milestone celebration many students cannot afford to experience, she explained.
She mentioned quite a few friends attended Making Prom Happen as well, which enhanced the experience for her.
“I’ve known these people for years, they also live in my area. And just seeing them find their outfits and seeing how far we’ve come, although we both have the same struggles, that was just really beautiful to see. It made me very happy,” she said.
Boucher is hoping they will have the resources in the future to hold more than one event per year, with multiple locations to increase accessibility.
Ruby-Sanguigni encourages other students to attend the event and, based on her experience, shares that they will be welcomed into an inclusive space.
She also has one message for the volunteers of the event:
“Thank you for letting me have that experience and for making me feel that no matter what I’ve been through, and what anyone has been through, that we can still enjoy things the same way.”
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